I see auctions for hunts regularly at conventions and local chapters of SCI, DSC and other well conceived outfits.

In a nutshell - when you buy one, do you feel you got a good hunt being at how it was donated and the outfitter makes no real revenue off your hunt.

I fear that if I buy a , Stone sheep hunt or something seriously expensive, that I would not get the opportunity to hunt the better "area" or be treated differently than someone paying market price.

For those that do this regularly, I would be interested in your perspective.

I have only purchased one auction hunt. It was a cape buffalo hunt with Johan Hermann at our local SCI chapter banquet. I had an awesome hunt. While with him I made sure he made money on it as well. I brought a friend and turned it into a 2 X1. My friend shot a buff, hyena, bush buck and impala. I shot my buff, a croc and a giraffe. We also tipped him well. This was a situation where everyone won. The chapter did well. I got a great deal on a great hunt and he made money as well.

On principle, I would not touch any auction hunts from SCI.

First of all they are the results of blackmail

And as you mentioned yourself, it might be fine buying a plains game hunt, where you can add to it as you go along.

But, buying an expensive hunt on an auction, you might be short changed, spend a lot of money and never get your money's worth.

I have no complaints. I have hunted Moz, TZ, Bots, and RSA on donated hunts with no problems. I never felt like I was treated any different than anyone else and the effort put out by the outfitter was 100%. Others mileage may vary. Very reputable outfitters donate a lot of nice hunts in desirable locations.

Auction hunts are a GREAT deal. I've bought several in places such as RSA, Zim, and Uganda. The outfitter gets a hunter and I make sure I add species and days so that he makes $ as well.

I purchased a thar hunt in new zeal at national sci once and spainish ibex hunt at a wild sheep convention. Both were good hunts with reputable outfits. They were also hunts that had otheranimqls on them and i shot up several other things while there. So uotfit knew going in that i was likely to shoot more and they recover thier cost.

A business runs on making a profit, not recovering costs.

My first trip to Zim was on a donated hunt. Donated by an American rep that had no authority to do so and was fired. The company stood behind it and Ian Gibson picked us up and was the consumate PH, but it could have been a nightmare, so never again.

I only bid on things that I can carry out of the hall that night. Life's too short to hassle with anything else.

I bought a Buffalo hunt in Moz at the SCI convention in Reno and had a great time. Don't feel like I was treated inconsequential at all. Neither did I on the SA plains game that I bought at a local SCI banquet. Usually a great way to get a decent hunt at a much lower price also.

I bought my first auction hunt for New Zealand in 1986 and added to it.I always go asap on these hunts to many things can change in a year.

quote:

Originally posted by Pancho:
Auction hunts are a GREAT deal. I've bought several in places such as RSA, Zim, and Uganda. The outfitter gets a hunter and I make sure I add species and days so that he makes $ as well.

That’s the way it should work. I’ve done the same.

I have bought many auction hunts over the years at several different organizations banquets (if they do a good job I feel like I should support them), I have bought only one hunt in the Limpopo that was, to put it mildly, less than stellar (and I bought it at a DSC auction, no worries for those looking to buy a hunt in the Limpopo...this outfitter no longer exhibits). I have always been treated like a regular paying client and I always shoot at least a few extra animals, the out fitter deserves to make some money on the deal, too.

A buddy won an RMEF auction hunt on a plains game package and that's what got us entry into the world of Africa hunting. He got the discount price and I paid for a package price. We had a great time and have been back two time since with the same outfitter. We plan on going back again to them in a couple of years.

So with that said, yes, assuming you get a good outfitter, it's definitely a good idea.

Then again, if you're paying $5k for a leopard or elephant hunt, then that should be a warning sign....

From what has been said here by those who have partaken of these auction hunts it seems they are usually only for one or two animals at most and invariably the hunter takes up the opportunity for more animals. I'm sure this is a well thought out strategy on the part of the outfitter offering these auction hunts knowing they will get good publicity and also still make money from the extras. No different than a supermarket offering specials knowing full well you will buy other goods at normal prices once in the door.
For this very reason I see outfitters/PH's will likely treat you as good as or possibly even better than a regular paying client as you will be the best advertising they could get. Obviously they won't provide the top trophies but it will wet your appetite for more, hopefully with them. Good business practice.

I have bought 3 auction hunts at DSC and they have all been great. On each one the wife and I have taken additional animals and/or tours; the PH worked hard to ensure we killed excellent trophies and the outfitter and staff treated us like royalty.

I know we have been lucky but I also believe a positive attitude and open mind gets you "an informal upgrade".

Safe travels............Larry